Egg coffee, a Vietnamese beverage gaining popularity on TikTok, contains raw or lightly cooked eggs whisked with sweetened condensed milk and served atop hot coffee. While the drink offers a creamy texture and cultural appeal, food safety experts warn of real health hazards.
Raw and undercooked eggs carry salmonella contamination risk, particularly dangerous for pregnant people, young children, older adults, and anyone with compromised immunity. The FDA recommends pasteurized eggs for uncooked preparations, yet most egg coffee recipes circulating on social media skip this safety step.
The preparation method matters significantly. Some versions use raw eggs beaten into a paste, then poured directly into hot coffee. The brief heat exposure from the coffee alone does not reliably kill pathogens. Other recipes call for lightly cooked eggs, which may still harbor bacteria if temperatures remain below 160 degrees Fahrenheit, the threshold required to eliminate salmonella.
Nutritionally, egg coffee delivers protein and some micronutrients from the eggs, plus caffeine and antioxidants from coffee. However, the sweetened condensed milk drives sugar content high, contributing empty calories and potentially spiking blood glucose, especially problematic for people managing diabetes.
The viral trend highlights a common TikTok pattern: aesthetic appeal overshadows food safety information. Users replicate videos without understanding the microbiological risks or substituting safer alternatives.
For those interested in egg coffee's creamy appeal, pasteurized egg products exist and provide the same texture without salmonella risk. Pasteurized eggs undergo heat treatment that kills pathogens while maintaining cooking properties. Alternatively, steamed milk or oat cream creates similar richness with zero pathogenic risk.
The beverage itself carries cultural value and isn't inherently unsafe when prepared properly. The problem lies in shortcuts and misinformation spread through social